Changeable color spotlight



Jan. l1, 1938. R. E. sNYDER CHANGEABLE COLOR SPOTLIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 29, 1935 ll l' Jan. l1, 1938'. R E SNYDER y 2,104,911

CHANGEABLE COLOR SPOTLIGHT Filed May 29, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www Jan. 11, 1938. R. E. SNYDER CHANGEABLE COLOR SPOTLIGHT Filed May 29. 1935 3 Sheets-Shea?. 3

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Patented Jan. 1l, 1938 UNITED STATES' PATENTIOFFICE CHANGEABLE COLOR SPOTLIGHT Robert E. Snyder, Pasadena, Calif. l

lApplication May 29, 1935, Serial No. 24,067

s claims. 01. 111-327) 'I'his invention relates to lamp structures. y an improved lens for iashlights of such a design An object of the invention is to provide an imthat the nature of the light thrown cannot only proved lamp structure such as, for example, a be ascertained from the point toward which the spotlight, that may be advantageously employed ashlight is directed but also from other points 5 upon police cars. In'various municipalities it is laterally of the directionof the projected beam. 5

lnowcommon practice for policemen to patrol With the foregoing and other objects in view,

various districts in automobiles of the same type which will be made manifest in the following devand character as those employed by civilians. tailed description, and speciiically pointed out Such cars are'generally equipped with spotlights in the appended claims, reference is had to the having red lenses so that when occasion requires accompanying drawings for an illustrative em- 10 that the car be given right of way the spotlight bodiment of the invention, wherein: may be turned o'n to throw a red beam indicating Fig. l is a vertical section through a spotlight that the automobile is a police automobile and is embodying one form of the present invention entitled to the right of way through tramc. The illustrating the positionv of the mechanism wherespotlights on such automobiles which have the in the color changer is in retracted position. 15 red lenses form an indicating means to criminals Fig. 2 is a partial view in vertical section iliuswho may be on the watch for them in that thel tratlng a portion of A Fig. 1 and the mechanism criminal on looking at the spotlight can determine therein shown in that position wherein the color from the presence of the red lens that the autochanger is in projected position..

mobile'is a police automobile. Y Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially 20 One object of the present invention is to provide upon the line 3-3 upon Fig. 1 in the direction an improved spotlight which is of such design and indicated. A Vcharacter as to present an appearance normally Fig. 4 isa partial view in vertical section taken of the conventional spotlight so that criminals upon the line 4-4 on Fig. 3 illustrating the mechcannot ascertain by merely looking at the spotanism in the position wherein the color changer light that the automobile on which the spotlight is is retracted. carried iste police car. At the same time, the Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the spotlight is so designed that it may be immedimechanism 1n the position wherein the color ately converted so that the beam of light prochanger is projected into operative position.

Jected therefrom is a red light so that the police Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the spotlight 30 car can thus obtain right of way through traiiic illustrating an alternative embodiment of the inas occasion may require. vention.

Another object of the invention ,is to provide Fig. 7 is a partial view in vertical section an improved'lamp structure or spotlight having through a ashlight embodying the invention, the above mentioned characteristics wherein the color changers being shown in retracted poslthere is a color changer adapted to lbe interposed tion. between the light source of the lamp structure Fig; 8 is aview similar to Fig. -7 illustrating and its reilector having spring means normally one of the colorchangers in projected position.

urging the color changer intothe retracted or Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the parts.

40 inoperative position behind the reflector and to illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

provide means for advancing the color changer Referring to the accompanying drawings. against the eiort of the spring means into an wherein similar reference characters designate operative position where it is held until such time similar parts throughout, and particularly to Figs. as it may be purposely released. 1 to 5, the lamp structureisshown as incorporated The invention may also be advantageously inwithin a suitable shell or housing Ill having 45 corporated in a flashlight used by police to direct thereon 'a suitable lens frame II. Within the traillc. shell or housing there is disposed a frame I2 hav- Another object of the invention is to provide ing downwardly and forwardlyv extending arms I3. an' improved lamp structure in which there are a A tubular member I4 is screwed into the back of plurality of color changers, each of which may frame I2 at about its center and within this 50 be shifted into operative position so that the ashtubular member there is slidably mounted a light may optionally be caused to project a red socket carrier I5 which carries the socket I6 tor beam of light, a green beam of light, or a white the electric lamp bulb I 1. Ascrew I8 hasits head light. exposed on the back of shell Ill and extends Another object of the invention is to provide through frame I2 and is threaded into the back of socket carrier I5. By rotating this screw the position, of the socket carrier and, conse quently, of the socket I6 and lamp bulb I1, can be adjusted so as to position the filament of the lamp bulb I1 at the focal ypoint of its reector.

The socket carrier I6 is urged into forwardmost` position by means of a spring I3.

Surrounding the tubular member I4 there is a slidable sleeve 20 which is urged into rearmost position by means of a spring 2| compressed between the end of the sleeve anda shoulder 22 on the tubular member I4. Fastened to the sleeve 20 there is a frame 23 for the color changer. The color changer may vary but is preferably in the form of. a cylinder of glass 24 which. is suitably colored, such as, for example, red. 'Ihis cylinderl has its rear end telescoping into the circular ange 25 on frame 23, and metal bands 26 extend through the .frame at their rear ends, bending over against the frame. The forward ends of these bands are hooked over the forward edge of -the color changer, as-indicated at 21. In instaulng the color changer the bands may. be sprung inwardly while the color changer is telescoped into flange 25 and the forward ends 21 snapped over the forward edge ofthe color changer. The reector is divided into two parts, an outer part 23 `which extends from the edge of lens 29 inwardly and rearwardly to a point adjacent the forward edge of the color changer, the other part of the reector, indicated at 30, extends from the forward edge of the color changer to shoulder 22, where it is fastened thereto. The two parts 23 and 3|! of the reflector cooperate to form /the completed reector of the lamp but are spaced from each other by an'annular opening through which the color changer may be projected. A shielding means is disposed forwardly of the light source and in the preferred embodiment this is formed by applying a silvered coating 3| over the forward side 'only of the electric lamp bulb I1. Ilfhe purpose of this shielding means is to prevent any light from the filament within the lamp from passing directly out through lens 29 and to cause all of the light emanating from the reector through lens 23 to have been first reflected by the reflector.

By the above described construction it will be appreciated that lens 23 may be fo'rme f clear glass and when the color changer is in re racted position, as shown on Fig. 1, the spotlight has the same general appearance as any conventional spotlight. However, when it is desired to convert the 'light thrown by the spotlight from a white light to a red light in securing right of way through trafc, on projecting the color changer forwardly substantially its completelength 'all light emanating from the lament passes through the cylindrical color changer before encountering the reflector and is thus converted to a red light so that all light reflected by the reflector through lens 29 is red-- In this way the spotlight may optionally have a conventional appearance and produce a white light when the color changer is in e retracted position shown or it may be conver ed so as to throw a red beam or any other color, depending upon 'the natureof the color changer. v As a means for projecting the color changer into operative position a solenoid 32 is mounted on the -frame between the forwardly extending arms I3. This solenoid has an ,armature 33, the

rear end of which extends upwardly as indicated at 34. The armature is urged rearwardly by means of a tension spring 36 connecting the armature with the frame. The operation is that when the solenoid is energized the armature will be thrown forwardly against the action of spring 35 and when the circuit through the solenoid is broken the spring 35 will retract it into the position shown on Fig. 1. 1

A U-shaped yoke 36 is pivotally mounted upon a rod 31 extending across between the forwardly extending arms I3 of frame I2. This yoke has the upper ends of its arms slotted and bosses or ktrunnions x33 extend therethrough. Agtransverse bar 33 connects the arms'of yoke 36 forwardly df theupwardly extending end 34 of armature 33 so as to be engaged thereby. Behind the yoke there is a transversely extending pintle;v 40 rotatably mounted in the arms I3. This pintle has loosely mounted thereon the lever 4I which is connected to the armature by means of a link 42. Lever 4I carries a spring actuated pawl 43 which is engageable with a ratchet wheel 44 on pintle 43. A similar ratchet wheel, which is reversed, and which is indicated at 45, is also mounted on pintle 40 and -is engageable by a pawl 46. The latter ratchet wheel and pawl serve merely as a back-up ratchet to prevent reverse rotation of pintle 40. Pintle 40 carries a cam-shaped member 41, the shape ofy which is clearly indicated on Figs."4 and 5. The cam-shaped member has opposed eye portions which are notched as indicated at 48 rand these notches are designed to partially receive a small pin 49 carried by the yoke.

The wires leading to the solenoid 32 and to the socket I6 for lamp bulb I1 are not shown. These may be admitted to the shell at any suitable point, there being suitable openings 50 and 5I provided for leading these wires to the socket I6.

The operation of the construction shown in Figs. l to 51s as follows: y

When the construction is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the solenoid 32 is energized'armature 33 .is drawn forwardly. This causes pin 39 to be engaged by portion 34 of the armature and the yoke to be swung forwardly about its pivot pin 31 a's a center. vThis shifts sleeve 20 forwardlyagainst the action of spring 2I. At the same time lever 4I is swung forwardly through a ninety degree turn andpawl 43 engaging ratchet wheel 44 causes' pintle 4U to undergo a. ninety degree turn. This rotates cam 41 through ninety degrees, positioning notch opposite pin 43 so that when the Vcircuit is subsequently broken throughsolenoid' 32 the yoke 36, sleeve 20, and color changer 24 will be locked or held in projected position against the returning effort of spring 2I. When the circuit is broken through solenoid 32 the armature will be returned to its initial position shown in Fig. l by spring 35. On a. subsequent energization of solenoid 32 the amature will again be drawn forwardly and during this forward movement pintle 40 will again be given a quarter turn by reason of pawl 43 having engaged the next succeeding tooth'on ratchet 44. This second quarter turn of pintle 40 moves cam 41 out of engagement with pin 49, thusallowing yoke 36 to be returned and sleeve 20 and color changer 24 to be retracted by reason of spring 2 I.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that an electrically operated means is provided which on successive energization will cause the color changer to first be projected into operative position and locked in such position, and that upon a subsequent operation or energization of the solenoid the color changer will be enabled to be released and allowed to be returned by spring 2|.- y

20 the shell 60.

of which are indicated at 62 and 63, the space between the parts enabling the color changer 64 to be projectedtherethrough. 'I'he color changer in this form of construction is carriednn a slidable sleeve 65 urged,into its rearmost position by spring `66 compressed ybetween shoulders 61 longitudinally slotted as indicated at 13 and a diametrical pin 14 extends across sleeve 65 and through the slots. ,Within the socket carrier there is disposed a rotary member 16 which is operable by means of a handle 11 on the back of bearing 18 is interposed between the rotary mem- `ber and frame 12. The rotary member is provided with a helical slot 19 through which the diametrically extending pin or bar 14 extends.

A latch member is pivotally mounted upon a diametricallyextending pivot pin 80 arranged within the Vsocket'carrier 1| behind socket 19. This latch is in the form of a bell crank having two arms 8| and 82 and is urged in a counterclockwise direction by means of spring 83.

A releasing member 84 slidably extends through the center of the rotary member and provides a portion 85 which is engageable with arm 82 of the latch. rIhis releasing member has a button 86 86 disposed centrallyy of handle 11 and is urged rearwardly by a spring 81.

In this type of construction, as before, the, forward side of the lamp bulb 69 is preferably Ashielded as indicated at 88, to prevent light ema- 40 hating therefrom from passing directly through lens 6|.

In this type of construction the lens 6| may also be formed of clear glass and the color changer 64 may be colored such as, for example, red. When it is desired to convert the construction so as to produce ared beam the rotary member 16 .is rotated by handle 11. The sides of the helical slot 19engaging pin 14 produce advancement of 'sleeve 65 and f the color changer 5() 64 against the action or effort of spring 66. As

to return the color changer 64 into its retracted position behind the neiiector button 86 is pressed, causing the latch to swing in a clockwise direcf tion against the action of spring 83. This releases `pin 14 and allows sleeve 65 and color changer 64 to be retracted under the action of `vspring 66.

In the construction shown in Figs. '7, 8, and 9 the invention has been illustrated as having beeny incorporated in a flashlight. In this form of construction 90 designates the shell -or casing adapted to receive one or more dry cells 9|. On

a partition 92 there is mounted a socket carrier 93 which carries or forms the socket for the lamp bulb 94, surrounding which there is a divided reflector 95. Through the annular space separating the portions of the reflector two color changers may be projected, one color changer being indicated at 96 and the other at 91. These color changers are mounted on suitable frames 98, each of which has a rearwardly extending Preferably, an anti-friction thrust' 'extension 99 `arranged adjacent the wall of the casing' 99. Springs |09 and |0| urge these frames rearwardly, respectively, and independent of each other. The frames are so designed that one frame telescopes within the other but the extensions 99 are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the casing 90. On each extension 99 there is mounted a suitable handle, the

handles being indicated at |02 and |03. TheD casing is provided with apertures |04 and |05 in which there are buttons |06 and |91. Fastened to each frame there are spring latches, these being indicated at |08 and |09.

In this type of construction when both frames and color changers are in released position as shown on Fig. 7 the beam of light which is projected is white or the color of the lamp 94. If it is desired to change the color, such as, for example, red, handle |02 is caused to slide forwardly compressing spring |09. When in its foremost position the end of spring latch |98 enters aperture |04 opposite button |06 so that the color changer is locked in its projected and operative position. By pressing button |06 latch |08 is caused to release and the color changer and its frame are returned to inoperative position by spring |99. To convert the light to another color handle |93 is moved forwardly, thus shifting the frame for color changer 91 into projecting position. 'Ihis frame is locked in its projecting position by latch |99 entering aperture |05. By pressing button |01 spring |0| will retract the color changer into its inoperative position behind the reflector.

As a means for increasing the advantage of this .type of construction when used for directing traic, the lens ||0 is preferably made with pronounced cylindrical walls, as indicated at These cylindrical walls may be ground or sand blasted while the forward facing of the lens may be clear or sand blasted if desired. By having such a construction of lens the nature of the light thrown may be visible not only to persons directly forward of reflector but may also be ascertained by persons who may be able only to see the cylindrical walls of the lens.

While in the forms disclosed herein the spring means is employed to normally urge the color changer into retracted or inoperative position, and means is provided for advancing the color changer against the effort of the spring lmeans into operative position, there may be situations wherein it is desirable to have the construction reversed, that is, the spring means may be so arranged to urge the color changer into operative position and other means is employed for retracting the color changer against the effort of the spring means into inoperative position. 'Ihe reversal of parts can readily be made by anyone skilled in the art and the details of constructionV for such a device have not been illustrated herein.

Inall forms of construction the color changer for the color given vto it. Where', however, it is" desired to scatter some light from the reflector so that the light can be seen more readily from the side, portions of the color changer may be formed of frosted or ground glass. Such portions normally would be relatively small and would lbe either in the form of spots of frosted or ground glass or rings encircling the color changer. The purpose of this type of construction is to merely diffuse a small portion of the t light and cause it to be scattered laterally on being reected from thereector.

From the above described constructions it will be appreciated that improved lamp structures have` been provided which when incorporated into a spotlight enable the spotlight to have the appearance of a conventional spotlight except for minute detection of the visible rim or edge of the color changer. The nature of the light thrown', however, may be instantly changed to the color of the color changer for purposes of demanding right of way through tralc. Furthermore, when the invention is incorporated in a flashlight the light thrown may be readily converted from a white light to a light of different colors. ln all types of construction the color changer is urged into its rearmost and inoperative position and means is provided 'for advancs ing it into' operative position and latching itJ therein. Then, upon release of the latching means, the color changer is .automatically returned to its inoperative position.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lamp structure comprising means providing a shell, a parabolic reflector in the shell, a lens over the reflector, a light source between the lens and the reflector, shield means between the light source and the lens for preventing light from passing directly from the light source through the lens, a tubular color changer arranged about the light source adapted to be projected forwardly about the light source or retracted rearwardly, spring means urging the color changer into retracted position, means for moving the color changer forwardly against the action of the spring means, means for locking the color changer in its forward position, and means for causing the locking means to release, enabling the color changer to be retracted by the spring means.

2. A lamp structure comprising a light source, a parabolic reector behind the light source, shield means forwardly of the light source so as to prevent light from passing directly from the light source forwardly through 'the open front of the reflector, a tubular color changer normally disposed rearwardly of the light source adapted to be moved forwardly between the light source and the reflector, spring means urging the color changer into normal position, means for moving the color changer forwardly, means for locking the color changer in its foremost po-lA sition, and means for causing the locking means to release the color changer to allow it to be returned to normal position by the spring means. 3.f A lamp structure comprising a light source, a parabolic reflector behind the light source, shield means forwardly of the light source so as to prevent light from passing directly from the light source forwardly through the open front of the reflector, a tubular color changer normally disposed rearwardly of the light source behind its foremost position, and means for causing the locking means to release the color changer to allow it to be returned to normal position by the spring means.

4. A lamp structurecomprising means providing a light source, a parabolic reflector behind the light source, means providing a shield forwardly of the light source so as' to cause all light emanating from the light source to be reflected by the reflector through the open front of the reflector, a tubular color changer adapted to be interposed between the light source and the reflector, spring means urging the color changer into inoperative position, electrically operated means for moving the color changer into operative position, means for locking the color changer in operative position against the eiort of the spring means", and means `for causing the locking means to release.

5. A lamp structure comprising means providing a light source, a parabolic reflector behind the light source, means providing a shield forwardly ofthe light source so as to cause all light emanating from the light source to be reflected by the reector through the open fr'ont of the Y reiiector, a tubular color changer adapted to be inter-posed between the light source and the reflector, spring means urging' the color changer into inoperative position, a solenoid, and means actuated by an energization of the solenoid for causing the color changer to be moved into operative position and held in operative position against the elort of the spring means, and upon a subsequent energization of the solenoid to be released so as to be returned by the spring means into inoperative position.

6. A lamp structure' comprising means providing a light source, a parabolic reflector behind the light source, means providing a shield forwardly of the light source so as to cause all light emanating from the light source to b'e reflected by the reilector through the open front of the reector, a tubular color changer adapted to be interposed between the light source and the reector, spring means urging the color changer into one of its extreme positions, means for moving the color cha-nger into the other of .its extreme positions against the effort of the spring means, means for locking the color changer in said other of its extreme positions,`and means for releasing the color changer so as to' be subject to the efortof. the spring means.

, vROBERT E. SNYDER. 

